"Native Plant Success in the Home Landscape"

Dan Mays is a native plant enthusiast, freelance writer and Lifetime Master Gardener from Walcott, Iowa, who believes in extensively utilizing native plants in the urban landscape. He grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa and studied biology at Iowa State University. In 2013 he received a bachelor degree in Business Administration from St. Ambrose University.

For over fifteen years Dan has been creating functional, but beautiful landscapes which place a priority on rain water retention. He has designed and installed numerous rain gardens in both residential and municipal settings. He lectures extensively on the topics of native plants, landscape design, and rain gardens. Dan shares his decades-long experience (and mistakes) in a common-sense approach to incorporate native plants into the home landscape and greater urban community. While he believes most native plantings achieve the technical standards of functionality, they too often lack aesthetic, and therefore, social appeal typical with standard residential design recommendations.. Dan does not tell you what to do, but rather what have - and what have not - worked for him. He will detail what he considers important factors, common blunders, and effective refinements to standard practices.

If you have an interest in native plants and/or social responsibility, this lecture and Mr. Mays’ entertaining style is sure to please.